{"id":2001,"date":"2020-05-01T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2020-05-01T00:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.mtsu.edu\/blogtest\/may-1-mtsu-administration-recommends-no-tuition-fee-hikes-for-fall-2020\/"},"modified":"2026-04-15T15:27:14","modified_gmt":"2026-04-15T20:27:14","slug":"may-1-mtsu-administration-recommends-no-tuition-fee-hikes-for-fall-2020","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.mtsu.edu\/president\/may-1-mtsu-administration-recommends-no-tuition-fee-hikes-for-fall-2020\/","title":{"rendered":"MAY 1: MTSU administration recommends no tuition, fee hikes for Fall 2020"},"content":{"rendered":"
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MURFREESBORO, Tenn. \u2014<\/strong>\u00a0Â鶹ÊÓƵ\u2019s administration will not seek tuition or fee increases for the 2020-21 academic year when the institution\u2019s budget goes to its Board of Trustees for consideration in June, President Sidney A. McPhee said Friday.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWe must do what we can to help our students and their families as we come to terms with the economic impact caused by the COVID-19 crisis,\u201d McPhee said. \u201cIt is vital that we identify and remove as many obstacles as we can, so that we can welcome our new and returning students to campus this fall.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Trustees Chairman Stephen B. Smith said the board will consider MTSU\u2019s budget plan at the board\u2019s next quarterly meeting on June 16. The chairman said he supported and encouraged McPhee\u2019s recommendation to keep tuition and fees flat.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWe have yet to measure fully the economic impact of this global pandemic, so this will be welcome news to many in our community,\u201d Smith said. \u201cI anticipate the board will seriously consider President McPhee\u2019s recommendation.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cAs stewards of this great university, my fellow trustees and I fully support the tremendous efforts by the president and his team in keeping MTSU focused on the future during this crisis,\u201d Smith said.<\/span><\/p>\n

MTSU\u2019s tuition and fees remain the lowest among the state\u2019s three largest public universities, including the University of Tennessee-Knoxville and the University of Memphis, said Trustee Joey Jacobs, chair of the board\u2019s Finance and Personnel Committee.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThis recommendation follows suit with MTSU\u2019s tradition of prudent and careful management of its finances and budget,\u201d Jacobs said.<\/span><\/p>\n

COVID-19 concerns prompted MTSU and the state\u2019s other higher education institutions to make rapid changes to protect the health and safety of students, faculty and staff.<\/span><\/p>\n

MTSU moved to remote instruction in mid-March and will continue doing so for summer, while cancelling most on-campus events and activities, including Spring Commencement.<\/span><\/p>\n

On Thursday, McPhee announced that MTSU will move forward with its COVID-19 preparations for the Fall 2020 semester with a goal of resuming on-campus, in-person classes and operations in August<\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n

And, in late March, MTSU unveiled three new guaranteed academic scholarships for qualified freshmen entering this fall who have not yet applied to the university.<\/span><\/p>\n

McPhee said the awards were designed for \u201cprospective freshmen in our region who are now considering higher education options that are closer to home due to the ongoing uncertainly caused by the COVID-19 crisis.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

The university will accept applications for the three awards \u2014 the Lightning Scholarship, the Blue Raider Scholarship and the Future Alumni Scholarship \u2014 through Aug. 14, 10 days before the start of the Fall 2020 semester.\u00a0These awards are not available to new freshmen who have already received either the Trustee, Presidential, True Blue or other guaranteed academic scholarship.\u00a0 Additional eligibility details include:<\/span><\/p>\n